Multiple-colored textile products

Abstract

 Multiple-colored textile product (a,g) has two or more kinds of dyed portions (b,c,h1-h7) obtained by two or more kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations and tieing operation in at least one of said pigment particle dyeing operations. One or more kinds of the dyed portions (b,c,h1-h7) are undyed portions which are formed by one or more times of tieing operations. The two or more kinds of dyed portions (b,c,h1-h7) constitute a tie-dyed pattern.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to multiple-colored textile products dyed with pigment particles.

[0002] One of the present inventors previously proposed what is called pigment exhaustion dyeing, in which a textile product dyed with pigment particles is obtained by pretreating a textile product with a cationic nitrogenous compound to provide the textile product with substantivity for pigment particles. This method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 263678/1992 and 33276/1993 and United States Patent Nos. 5221288 and 5252103 and other publications.

[0003] As such, pigment exhaustion dyeing is finding application to a wide variety of textile products, since it does not require strict complicated dyeing conditions as in dyeing with conventional dyes and can be performed under very easy conditions.

[0004] However, conventional textile products obtained by pigment exhaustion dyeing are limited to those which are dyed in a single color over the entire surface, or those which are dyed uniformly on the entire surface with both thermochromic or photochromic particles and an ordinary, pigment and which show color changes upon temperature changes or according to the absence or presence of light irradiation. Against this background there is a need for the development of a textile product better in fashionability, pattern and color variability and other properties.

[0005] The present invention was developed to provide multiple-colored textile products dyed with pigment particles to provide patterns and colors rich in fashionability and variability.

[0006] A multiple-colored textile product of the present invention has at least three colored portions of different colors formed with two or more kinds of pigment particles, wherein at least a part of said colored portions constitutes a tie-dyed pattern. A high color-deepening effect and a color mixing effect are obtained in the dyed portion where two or more kinds of pigment particles overlap.

[0007] Another multiple-colored textile product of the present invention has two or more kinds of dyed portions obtained by two or more kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations and tieing operation in at least one of said pigment particle dyeing operations, wherein one or more kinds of said dyed portions are undyed portions which are formed by one or more times of tieing operations so that, said two or more kinds of dyed portions constitute a tie-dyed pattern. A high color-deepening effect is obtained in the dyed portion obtained by two or more times of pigment particle dyeing operations. Here, it should be noted that a pigment particle dyeing operation is regarded as different from another one, unless they share exactly the same features of pigment particles.

[0008] In a multiple-colored textile product subjected to a single tieing operation in one of the two kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations, the dyed portion subjected to no tieing operation is double dyed by the two kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations, while the portion subjected to the single tieing operation is dyed by one kind of pigment particle dyeing operation but not dyed by the other kind. Therefore, this multiple-colored textile product has two kinds of dyed portions, forming a tie-dyed pattern.

[0009] In a multiple-colored textile product subjected to tieing operation in both of the two kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations, the dyed portion subjected to no tieing operation is double dyed by the two kinds of pigment particle operations, and there are two other kinds of portions subjected to a single tieing operation. One of the two other kinds of portions has been dyed by one kind of pigment particle operation but not dyed by the other kind. The remaining portion has been dyed by the latter kind of pigment particle operation but not dyed by the former. Therefore, this multiple-colored textile product has three kinds of dyed portions, forming a tie-dyed pattern. If there is a cross-tied portion in each of the two kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations, it is not dyed in any pigment particle dyeing operation.

[0010] In a multiple-colored textile product dyed by three or more kinds of pigment particle operations, there are three cases:

1) the tieing operation is performed in all kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations,

2) the tieing operation is performed in two or more kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations and not performed in at least one kind of pigment particle dyeing operation, and

3) the tieing operation is performed in one of pigment particle dyeing operations and not performed in the other two or more kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations.

In any case, the multiple-colored textile product has two or more kinds of dyed portions, forming a tie-dyed pattern.

[0011] The multiple-colored textile products of claims 1 and 2 have premium value, because the patterns of the colored portions and the dyed portions vary among products, unlike the uniform patterns obtained by screen printing, transfer printing or other ordinary printing techniques. For this reason, the multiple-colored textile products of the present invention are more valuable in fashionability and pattern and color variability, in comparison with conventional pigment-colored textile products, which are unsatisfactory in commercial value because they are colored in a single color or uniformly. Also, these multiple-colored textile products do not require the use of anti-dyeing agents, discharge agents, and the like, in the undyed portions, and patterns are formed simultaneously with dyeing; therefore, they can be produced very effectively without being damaged by the anti-dyeing agents etc.

[0012] In a multiple-colored textile product wherein at least one kind of pigment particles are thermochromic or photochromic particles, at least a part of the dyed portion shows color changes upon temperature changes or according to the absence or presence of light irradiation. This multiple-colored textile product has still higher value added in fashionability and pattern and color variability, because at least a part of the colored and dyed portions show color changes upon temperature changes or according to the absence or presence of light irradiation.

Figure 1

is a frontal view of a T-shirt.

Figure 2

is a frontal view of a blend shirt.

[0013] Examples of textile products for the present invention include yarns, slivers, loose stocks, raw cotton, fabrics, knittings, felts, and unwoven fabrics, each consisting of one or more kinds of fibers selected from the group comprising natural fibers, such as cotton, hemp, silk and wool, regenerated or semi-synthetic fibers, such as rayon, cupra and acetate, synthetic fibers, such as polyester, polyamide, acrylic, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, vinylidene and vinylon, glass fiber, metal fiber, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber and other fibers, and secondary products obtained by sewing or otherwise processing these primary products. These textile products may be previously colored by known method.

[0014] The pigment particles for the present invention preferably have a particle size of about not more than 50 µ m. There is no limitation on kind of pigment; any conventional pigment can be used.

[0015] Such known pigments include
ordinary organic pigments, such as phthalocyanine blue, quinacridone red, Hansa Yellow and brilliant carmine 6B; ordinary inorganic pigments, such as carbon black, emerald green, red iron oxide and chrome yellow;
fluorescent pigments consisting of a resin colored with a fluorescent cationic or disperse dye;
white pigments and extender pigments, such as titanium oxide, barium sulfate and calcium carbonate;
phosphorescent or luminescent pigments, such as ceramic powders obtained by mixing a rare earth element with a metal oxide such as alumina, followed by sintering, or metal sulfide such as zinc sulfide activated by a metal; metal powder pigments, such as gold powder, silver powder, copper powder, bronze powder and aluminum powder; metallic lustrous pigments or pearl pigments, such as mica, M.I.O. (micaceous iron oxide), glass bead, with or without being coated with nickel, cobalt, gold, silver, titanium oxide, iron oxide, or the like;
thermochromic particles, such as polymer microcapsules or solid solutions containing a thermochromic material, e.g., a three-component composition of an acid developing substance, an acidic substance and a solvent, a two-component composition of an acid developing substance and an acidic substance, a liquid crystal, or a mixed liquid crystal composition; matrix particles wherein such a thermochromic material is dispersed in a synthetic resin matrix; and particles of metal complex crystals such as those of Ag₂HgI₄ or Cu₂HgI₄; and
photochromic particles, such as matrix particles wherein an organic photochromic compound of the spiropyran, spiroxazine, naphthopyran, fulgide or another series is dispersed in a synthetic resin matrix; polymer microcapsules or solid solutions containing a composition of such an organic photochromic compound, and a hindered amine, a hindered phenol, a plasticizer, a high boiling point solvent, a synthetic resin, and the like; and inorganic particles such as those of silver halide.

[0016] An example production of a multiple-colored textile product of the present invention is hereinafter described, in which the starting material textile product is exemplified by a T-shirt.

[0017] First, a T-shirt, preferably scoured one, is longitudinally, transversely or obliquely folded to a rod, with or without twisting, or an extended T-shirt is twisted to a cone with its center picked up. This T-shirt is then strongly tied with a string of hemp, polyethylene, or the like, a rubber ring, or the like, at several points [first tieing operation].

[0018] After the first tieing operation, the T-shirt is cationized with a cationic nitrogenous compound as described below to provide the T-shirt with substantivity for pigment particles [first cationization].

[0019] After the first cationization, the T-shirt is treated with pigment particles, e.g. aqueous dispersion liquid of pigment particles (the pigment particles may be a mixture of two or more kinds of pigment particles) [first pigment particle dyeing operation], whereby the portions not tied with the string, rubber ring, or the like, are effectively dyed, with a tie-dyed pattern in the tied portions.

[0020] Next, after the string or the like is untied, the T-shirt is folded or otherwise treated in a direction other than that in the first tieing operation, to make the T-shirt in a rod or other form, which is then strongly tied with a string or the like [second tieing operation].

[0021] This rod or other form is again cationized [second cationization], after which it is treated with pigment particles, e.g. aqueous dispersion liquid of pigment particles (the pigment particles may be a mixture of two or more kinds of pigment particles) of a kind other than that used in the first pigment particle dyeing operation [second pigment particle dyeing operation].

[0022] In the T-shirt thus obtained, the portions not tied in the first and second tieing operations are imparted with the mixed color of the pigment particles used in the first and second pigment particle dyeing operations, the portions tied in the first tieing operation are colored with the pigment particles used in the second pigment particle dyeing operation, and the portions tied in the second tieing operation are colored with the pigment particles used in the first pigment particle dyeing. Therefore, at least three different dyed portions of different colors appear in a pattern. The portion cross-tied in the first and second, tieing operations, if present, is not effectively dyed with any kind of pigment particles, so that the ground color of the T-shirt appears there. When the ground color is included, there are four different portions of different colors.

[0023] The multiple-colored textile product of the present invention is not limited to the examples described here. For example, wider color variation can be obtained by using a previously colored textile product as a starting material. Also, fine sophisticated patterns can be formed by pigment dyeing with employing Japanese traditional handcraft techniques for tie-dyeing, such as kanoko shibori, miura shibori, yanagi shibori, murakumo shibori, shinobu shibori, itajime shibori, hiranui-hikishime shibori, awasenui shibori, tsumaminui shibori, and makiage shibori. It is also possible to obtain still more complex colors and patterns, finely varied mixed colors, or dynamic patterns, by repeating each of the above-described processes in several cycles, or reverting the tieing operation and the cationization process, or using a band, cylinder, bag, or the like, in place of the above-described string, rubber ring, or the like, in tieing operation. Furthermore, a variety of patterns can be more conveniently obtained by using pad printing, spray printing, paint brush printing, writing brush printing, or the like, in combination with the above-described pigment exhaustion dyeing.

[0024] The above-described cationic nitrogenous compound is exemplified by, but not limited to, cationic surfactants of the quaternary ammonium salt or pyridinium salt type, nitrogenous cationic polymers conventionally called the polyamine type, polycation type, dicyandiamide type, etc., and various cationic binders, e.g. cationic resin binders. Any cationic nitrogenous compound can be used, as long as it usually serves for this kind of purposes. These cationic nitrogenous compounds, singly or in combination, can be applied to textile products by known methods, such as dip dyeing, padding, print dyeing and spray coating.

[0025] The above-described pigment particles may be used singly or in combination in one dyeing operation, and are applied to textile products by dip dyeing, padding, and other methods.

[0026] The multiple-colored textile product of the present invention may be treated with any chemicals in common use, such as ultraviolet absorbents, antioxidants, fluorescent brightening agents, ordinary dyes, softening agents, antistatic agents, antiseptics, insecticides, repellents, antibacterial deodorants, deodorizers, perfumery, flame retardants, wetting agents, various binders, e.g. resin binders, and resin crosslinking agents. These chemical treatments may be performed before, during or after the textile product is dyed.

[0027] Multiple-colored textile products treated with various binders (e.g. resin binders), in particular, are particularly preferred, because they have improved pigment particle dyeing fastness to rubbing and washing.

EXAMPLES

[0028] The present invention is hereinafter described in more detail by means of, but not limited to, the following examples, with reference to drawings attached.

Example 1

[0029] A cotton T-shirt (100 parts by weight), previously scoured, was longitudinally (creases made in the longitudinal direction) folded to a rod, which was then strongly tied with polyethylene strings at 6 points at regular intervals. The T-shirt was then placed in a drum dyeing machine of 3,000 part capacity by weight. After 2,000 parts by weight of water (bath ratio, 20:1) was added, the dyeing machine was operated at 30 rpm.

[0030] Next, a 10-fold diluted aqueous solution of a cationic nitrogenous compound (trade name Fixer P, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 3% by weight, and ethylene glycol, at 10% by weight, both ratios being relative to the weight of the T-shirt cloth, in water, was added to the dyeing machine via the chemical inlet thereof. The inner liquid temperature was gradually raised to 70 °C, at which temperature the cotton T-shirt was treated for 15 minutes, to cationize it.

[0031] Subsequently, the cotton T-shirt was thoroughly rinsed with water to remove the excess cationic nitrogenous compound and other additives, and dewatered.

[0032] Next, after rotation of the dyeing machine was suspended, 2,000 parts by weight of water was added, and the dyeing machine was restarted at 30 rpm. A 10-fold diluted aqueous mixture of a 15% aqueous dispersion of a yellow pigment (trade name PG Yellow MI-IG, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 0.5% by weight, and an acrylic acid ester emulsion binder (trade name Binder MRY, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 5% by weight, both ratios being relative to the weight of the T-shirt cloth, in water, was added to the dyeing machine via the chemical inlet thereof. The liquid temperature was gradually raised to 80°C , at which temperature the cotton T-shirt was treated for 15 minutes. Subsequently, this cotton T-shirt was thoroughly rinsed, and dewatered, after which the polyethylene strings were untied.

[0033] This cotton T-shirt was thus dyed yellow over the whole surface, except for the tied portion, the tied portion appearing as a white lateral stripe pattern.

[0034] Next, this T-shirt was transversely folded to a rod, which was then strongly tied with polyethylene strings at 4 points at regular intervals. The T-shirt was then placed in a drum dyeing machine of 3,000 parts capacity by weight. After 2,000 parts by weight of water (bath ratio, 20:1) was added, the dyeing machine was operated at 30 rpm, followed by the same treatment with the same cationic nitrogenous compound as above to cationize the T-shirt again. Subsequently, the cotton T-shirt was thoroughly rinsed with water to remove the excess cationic nitrogenous compound and other additives, and dewatered.

[0035] Next, after rotation of the dyeing machine was suspended, 2,000 parts by weight of water was added, and the dyeing machine was restarted at 30 rpm. A 10-fold diluted aqueous mixture of a 10% aqueous dispersion of a blue pigment (trade name PG Blue MI-IG, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 0.5% by weight, a 50% aqueous dispersion of red color developing thermochromic particles (trade name Chromicolor Magenta AQ-27, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 12% by weight, and an acrylic acid ester emulsion binder (trade name Binder MRY, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 10% by weight, all ratios being relative to the weight of the T-shirt cloth, in water, was added to the dyeing machine via the chemical inlet thereof. The liquid temperature was gradually raised to 80°C, at which temperature the cotton T-shirt was treated for 15 minutes. Subsequently, after the strings were untied, this cotton T-shirt was thoroughly rinsed and dewatered, and then dried at 90 °C for 2 hours in a tumbler drier.

[0036] The thus-obtained T-shirt (a), illustrated in Figure 1, developed a yellow vertical strip pattern (b) and a purple lateral stripe pattern (c), as observed at a room temperature of under about 22 °C , the intersection (d) of the vertical and lateral stripes showing a white color essential to the original cotton T-shirt, thus forming a white dotted pattern, with the remaining portion (e) showing a Bordeaux color over the entire surface.

[0037] When observation was made at a room temperature above about 32°C , the red color developing thermochromic particles did not show their color, so that a yellow vertical stripe pattern (b) and a blue lateral stripe pattern (c) appeared, the intersection (d) of the vertical and lateral stripes showing the same white dotted pattern as above, with the remaining portion (e) showing a green color over the entire surface.

[0038] This reversible color-change phenomenon due to temperature changes occurred repeatedly. In an actual wearing condition, this T-shirt developed a very wide variety of coloring conditions, depending on the temperature distribution associated with the correlation of body contact, rubbing and room temperature.

Example 2

[0039] A cotton T-shirt was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that both a 50% aqueous dispersion of a pink fluorescent pigment (trade name Glow Pink MIB conc, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 2% by weight, and a 50% aqueous dispersion of a blue color developing photochromic particles (trade name Photopia Blue AQ-T, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 12% by weight, both ratios being relative to the weight of the T-shirt cloth, were used in place of the combination of a 10% aqueous dispersion of a blue pigment, at 0.5% by weight, and a 50% aqueous dispersion of red color developing thermochromic particles, at 12% by weight, both ratios being relative to the weight of the T-shirt cloth.

[0040] The thus-obtained T-shirt developed a yellow vertical stripe pattern and a bright purple lateral stripe pattern, as observed under sunlight or ultraviolet lighting, the intersection of the vertical and lateral stripes showing a white dotted pattern, with the remaining portion showing a brown color over the entire surface.

[0041] When the T-shirt was observed in the absence of sunlight and ultraviolet lighting, or indoors, the above blue color developing photochromic particles did not develop their color, so that a yellow vertical stripe pattern and a highly bright pink lateral stripe pattern appeared, the intersection of the vertical and lateral stripes showing the same white dotted pattern as above, with the remaining portion showing a bright orange color over the entire surface.

[0042] This reversible color-change phenomenon according to the absence or presence of light irradiation occured repeatedly.

[0043] A T-shirt obtained by the same treatment as above, except that no photochromic particles were used, showed almost the same appearance as observed without light irradiation.

Example 3

[0044] Shirts (100 parts by weight) of a blend yarn of 35% polyester and 65% cotton, previously scoured, were placed in a drum dyeing machine of 3,000 parts capacity by weight. After 2,000 parts by weight of water (bath ratio, 20:1) was added, the dyeing machine was operated at 30 rpm.

[0045] Next, a 10-fold aqueous solution of a cationic nitrogenous compound (trade name Fixer P, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 3% by weight, and ethylene glycol, at 10% by weight, both ratios being relative to the weight of the shirt cloth, in water, was added to the dyeing machine via the chemical inlet thereof. The inner liquid temperature was gradually raised to 70 °C, at which temperature the blended yarn shirt was treated for 15 minutes, to cationize the blended yarn shirt. Subsequently, the blended yarn shirt was thoroughly rinsed with water to remove the excess cationic nitrogenous compound and other additives, and dewatered.

[0046] Next, after rotation of the dyeing machine was suspended, 2,000 parts by weight of water was added, and the dyeing machine was restarted at 30 rpm. A 10-fold diluted aqueous mixture of a 10% aqueous dispersion of a blue pigment (trade name PG Blue MI-IG, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.) at 0.5% by weight, and an acrylic acid ester emulsion binder (trade name Binder MRY, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 5% by weight, both ratios being relative to the weight of the shirt cloth, in water, was added to the dyeing machine via the chemical inlet thereof. The liquid temperature was gradually raised to 80°C, at which temperature the blended yarn shirt was treated for 15 minutes. Subsequently, this shirt was thoroughly rinsed, and dewatered.

[0047] To the above dyeing machine, 2,000 parts by weight of water was added, followed by the same treatment with the same cationic nitrogenous compound as above to cationize the blended yarn shirt again. This blended yarn shirt was then thoroughly rinsed to remove the excess cationic nitrogenous compound and other additives, and dewatered.

[0048] The thus-obtained blended yarn shirt was continuously twisted, while the center thereof was being picked up, to a roughly cone shape, and tied with a polyethylene string. The shirt was then placed in a net and added to the dyeing machine. At the same time 2,000 parts by weight of water was added, and the dyeing machine was operated at 30 rpm. A 10-fold diluted aqueous mixture of a 50% aqueous dispersion of red color developing thermochromic particles (trade name Chromicolor Magenta AQ-27, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 12% by weight, and an acrylic acid ester emulsion binder (trade name Binder MRY, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), at 10% by weight, both ratios being relative to the weight of the shirt cloth, in water, was added to the dyeing machine via the chemical inlet thereof. The liquid temperature was gradually raised to 80 °C , at which temperature the blended yarn shirt was treated for 15 minutes. After the string was untied, this shirt was thoroughly rinsed and dewatered. Then a pad printing ink consisting of 15 parts of a 15% aqueous dispersion of a yellow pigment (trade name PG Yellow MI-IG, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.), 10 parts of an acrylic acid ester emulsion binder (trade name Binder MRY, produced by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd.) and 75 parts of water was applied to print a regular triangle pattern of 3 cm in side length at several sites, and the blended yarn shirt was dried at 90°C for 2 hours using a tumbler drier.

[0049] The thus-obtained blended yarn shirt (g), illustrated in Figure 2, developed a blue whirling pattern (h) [consisting of whirling subpatterns (h1) through (h7)] and a brown regular triangle pattern (i), the remaining portion (j) showing a purple color over the entire surface, giving a very beautiful appearance (observed at a room temperature of 20°C ).

[0050] When the temperature rose to about 32 °C, the regular triangle pattern (i) became green, the remaining portion (j) showing a blue color, while the blue whirling pattern (h) did not change its color. The whirling pattern (h) and the remaining portion (j) thus unified together, while the whirling pattern (h) disappeared.

[0051] This color change phenomenon was reversibly repeatable.

Claims

1. Multiple-colored textile product
wherein at least three colored portions of different colors are formed with two or more kinds of pigment particles, and at least a part of said colored portions constitutes a tie-dyed pattern.

2. Multiple-colored textile product having two or more kinds of dyed portions obtained by two or more kinds of pigment particle dyeing operations and tieing operation in at least one of said pigment particle dyeing operations, wherein one or more kinds of said dyed portions are undyed portions which are formed by one or more times of tieing operations so that said two or more kinds of dyed portions constitute a tie-dyed pattern.

3. Multiple-colored textile product of claim 1, wherein at least one kind of said pigment particles are thermochromic or photochromic particles.

4. Multiple-colored textile product of claim 2, wherein at least one kind of the pigment particles used in said pigment particle dyeing operations are thermochromic or photochromic particles.

Drawing